EP1132285A2 - Dispositif permettant de modifier la longueur d'une manivelle de pédale notamment sur des véhicules à pédale - Google Patents

Dispositif permettant de modifier la longueur d'une manivelle de pédale notamment sur des véhicules à pédale Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1132285A2
EP1132285A2 EP01105290A EP01105290A EP1132285A2 EP 1132285 A2 EP1132285 A2 EP 1132285A2 EP 01105290 A EP01105290 A EP 01105290A EP 01105290 A EP01105290 A EP 01105290A EP 1132285 A2 EP1132285 A2 EP 1132285A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
shaft
previous
pedal
gear
revolving body
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP01105290A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1132285A3 (fr
EP1132285B1 (fr
Inventor
Ivano Giustozzi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Dema Srl
Original Assignee
Dema Srl
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Dema Srl filed Critical Dema Srl
Publication of EP1132285A2 publication Critical patent/EP1132285A2/fr
Publication of EP1132285A3 publication Critical patent/EP1132285A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1132285B1 publication Critical patent/EP1132285B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62M—RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR SINGLE-TRACK CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES
    • B62M3/00—Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot
    • B62M3/02—Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot of adjustable length
    • B62M3/04—Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot of adjustable length automatically adjusting

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for continuously varying the length of pedal cranks, particularly of pedal vehicles.
  • each pedal crank comprises an outer element to which the pedal is fastened, and an inner element rigidly connected to a revolving body or hub, going through a fixed sleeve.
  • the outer element of the pedal crank is guided to slide on the relevant inner element by a linkage actuated by a shaft, which revolves coaxially inside the hub; means are provided between the hub, sleeve and shaft for transferring the hub rotation to the shaft for the latter to rotate around its own axis at a different speed from the hub rotation.
  • the second gear is engaged to the first gear while the third gear engages the crown wheel, the numerical ratio of the teeth between the various gears and the crown wheel being such that the first gear can rotate around its own axis ad a speed twice the rotation of the hub associated to the pedal crank.
  • a pedal stroke generates a rotary motion of the pedal crank, i.e. of its inner and outer elements; since the inner element is connected to the hub, also the latter is forced to perform an identical rotation.
  • the second gear engaged to the crown wheel integral with the sleeve it rotates around its own axis entraining also the third gear with the same rotation; this will also cause rotation of the first gear keyed to the shaft and force the latter to rotate.
  • Each shaft end is made integral with the end of a connecting rod, whose opposite end is pivoted to a relevant crank; also the opposite ends of the cranks are pivoted to the outer elements of the pedal cranks.
  • shaft rotation causes the angular movement of the above connecting rods and a consequent motion of the relevant cranks; as mentioned above, the cranks are pivoted to the outer elements of the pedal cranks, whereby the movement of the former causes the latter to slide with respect to the inner elements of the pedal cranks coupled to the hub.
  • WO 94/26581 The main purpose of WO 94/26581 is to solve typical dimensional drawbacks of common devices previously known; in fact, significant advantages in this direction can be reached through the solution contained in the above document.
  • the present invention is based on the acknowledgement that the solution described in WO 94/26581 implies considerable overall dimensions as well as a significant mass and frictions, which prevent inserting the device gear unit inside a standard sleeve of a pedal vehicle; as a result, the use of the device disclosed by WO 94/26581 presumes e.g. an ad hoc execution of the bike frame, i.e. special adapting means for coupling the device gear unit to a standard frame.
  • reference 1 indicates two bushings, wherein the pedals associated to the device according to the present invention are to be fastened, omitted for simplicity's sake.
  • Each bushing 1 is integral to a relevant tubular element 2, apt to slide on an inner element 3; therefore, the set of each element 2 and 3 represents the actuating crank arm of each pedal or pedal crank, where the element 2 represents the outer element and element 3 represents the inner element.
  • Each inner element 2 is connected by common means, such as stirrups 4, to both ends of a hub or revolving body indicated in its whole with 5, which is mounted through a substantially cylindrical housing body 6.
  • the housing body 6 may consist of the motion box of a bicycle, i.e. a typical frame sleeve of a bicycle, wherein bearings are housed according to the known state of the art for a shaft with associated pedal cranks to rotate.
  • housing body or sleeve 6 is used to house several components of the device according to the present invention, as further described and illustrated with reference to Fig. 2.
  • Reference C indicates a common crown fastened as known to one of the stirrups 4; this crown is provided to transmit through a chain, not represented in the figure, the motion produced by the pedals rotation to the rear wheel of the vehicle on which the device according to the invention is assembled.
  • reference 7 indicates a shaft inserted coaxially to the hub 5 without any interference in a through cavity of the latter; the shaft 7 protrudes out of both ends of the hub 5 on which protection bushings 8 are screwed; the shaft goes through these bushings 8 without interference.
  • Two first levers 10 equal to each other are rigidly coupled to the ends of the shaft 7; as illustrated in the figure, the levers 10 are parallel to each other; starting from the shaft 7 they extend to one same direction in one same angular position; it can be assumed, by way of example, to have both levers 10 directed to the front wheel of the pedal vehicle.
  • Each one of the first two levers 10 is pivoted, by means of a pin 10A and a rolling bearing 10B, to an end of a relevant second lever or 11; the other end of each one of the second levers 11 is pivoted, by means of a pin 11A and a rolling bearing 11B, to the outer element 2 of the pedal cranks.
  • connection between the outer element 2 of each pedal crank and one end of the shaft 7 is apparently obtained through a connecting rod and crankshaft linkage, the connecting rod being represented by the lever 10 and the crankshaft by the lever 11.
  • levers 10 are fixed and maintaining the same position at all times; vice-versa, the levers 11 are free to move angularly around the pin 10A due to the motion of the outer elements 2 of the pedal cranks.
  • Fig. 2 shows the components of the device according to the present invention, located inside the sleeve 6.
  • reference 12 indicates a first ring nut screwed on a threading 13A delimited on the outer surface of a first bearing holder body 13; this bearing holder body 13 has a central through opening, which is apt to accommodate the hub 5 and is fastened in line with an appropriate rolling or ball bearing 14; thus, one end of the hub 5 will protrude out of the body 13 and be able to rotate with precision due to the presence of the bearing 14.
  • Reference 15A indicates a second ring nut directly delimited, i.e. integral to a second bearing holder body 15, which also has a central through opening apt to accommodate the hub 5; it should be noticed that a threading 15B is also delimited on the outer surface of the bearing holder body 15.
  • the housing seat of the bearings 14' is directed outside the sleeve 6 and has an appropriate closing cover 16 with a central through opening for the hub 5.
  • the other end of the hub 5 can protrude out of the central opening of the body 15 and out of the opening of the cover 16, with the hub 5 having being able to rotate with precision due to the presence of the bearings 14'.
  • sealing means operating on the hub 5 can be located, which may also be directly integrated in the bearings 14 and/or 14'.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates how the hub 5 is formed by two elements 5A and 5B fitted with respective axial cavities through which the shaft 7 goes through; the elements 5A and 5B have each one a substantially tubular portion ending outside the sleeve 6 and a flanged portion wholly contained inside the sleeve itself.
  • Reference 17 indicates a fixed gear rigidly coupled to the bearing holder body 15; as it can be noticed, the gear 17 has an axial cavity for the tubular portion of the element 5B of the hub 5 to go through without interference; additionally, Fig. 2 shows how the flanged portion of the element 5B delimits a throat 5B' wherein the gear 17 is housed without interferences.
  • Both elements 5A and 5B of the hub 5 are rigidly coupled to each other so as to rotate simultaneously; to this purpose, in the above example, the relevant flanged portions of the elements 5A and 5B are integral between them by means of suitable screws, one of them indicated with 18, forming one single rigid body.
  • each satellite gear 20 are supported by relevant thrust balls 21, the latter being housed in relevant open seats delimited at the ends of the satellite gears themselves.
  • the gears 20 are assembled in a planetary way with respect to the rotary axis of the hub 5 and arranged symmetrically with respect to the shaft 7.
  • References 22 and 23 indicate two covers with relevant central openings, fastened to the flanged portions of the elements 5A and 5B by common means, such as screws (one fastening screw of the cover 23 is indicated with 24), whose purpose is to close the above end seats of the satellite gears 20 in which are housing the balls 21.
  • Each satellite gear 20 is engaged on one side to the gear 17, which is a fixed one, being integral to the bearing holder body 15 and consequently to the sleeve 6; the other side of each satellite gear, on the contrary, is engaged to one same crown wheel 25 located between the elements 5A and 5B of the hub 5 and rigidly coupled to the shaft 7, e.g. by means of a small key (not shown).
  • the gear 17 and crown wheel 25 are similar as to their diameter and number of teeth.
  • the elements 5A and 5B determine the housing seats for suitable rolling or ball bearings indicated with 26, which ensure a free rotation of the hub 5 with respect to the shaft 7.
  • Reference 27 indicates a safety metal ring fastened in a suitable seat on the tubular portion of the element 5B; the purpose of this ring is to prevent a possible extraction of the element 5B from the unit formed by the body 15 and gear 17.
  • reference 28 indicates a shim or spacer with a central through cavity not in contact with the hub 5, which during use is pressed between the bearing 14 and the cover 22.
  • the shaft 7 is inserted in the axial through cavities of the elements 5A and 5B of the hub 5, protruding out of the two ends of their relevant tubular portions.
  • the ends of the shaft 7 go through the inner portions 3 of the pedal cranks and are rigidly coupled to the levers 10; as said above, the levers 10 are pivoted on the ends of the relevant second levers 11; the other end of the latter being pivoted on the outer portions 2 of the pedal cranks.
  • Both elements 5A and 5B with bearings 26 are inserted on both ends of the shaft 7, on which the crown wheel 25 has been preventively keyed, minding that the terminal portions of the four satellite gears 20 are inserted in the relevant housings delimited in the elements 5A and 5B themselves and that the satellite gears 20 engage the crown wheel 25.
  • both elements 5A and 5B are fastened to each other by the screws 18; the thrust balls 21 are placed in the end seats of the satellite gears 20 and to the flanged portions of the elements 5A and 5B are associated both covers 22 and 23, by means of their relevant screws.
  • the gear 17 is then made integral to the bearing holder body 15 and in the axial cavity of both elements is inserted the tubular portion of the element 5B of the hub 5, so as to have the gear 17 inserted in the throat 5B' and the satellite gears 20 engaged to the gear 17; now, to the same tubular portion of the element 5B will be associated the safety ring 27 and the bearings 14' as well as the relevant cover 16 fastened to the body 15.
  • the bearing holder body 15 with the hub 5 - shaft 7 unit is inserted and fastened into the sleeve 6; this is obtained screwing the threading 15B of the body 15 in a nut screw available inside the sleeve 6 (according to the common art, this nut screw is practically available in every sleeve), until the ring nut 15A strikes against the sleeve itself as also schematically illustrated in Fig. 1.
  • the bearing holder body 13 is then screwed with interposed the spacer 28, for accurate packing of the various inner components inside the sleeve itself; now, the ring nut 12 will be screwed to the threading 13A of the bearing holder body 13 in order to warrant a final safe closure of the gears unit.
  • both the stirrups 4 (one fitted with the crown C) and protection bushings 8 are commonly fastened to both ends of the hub 5; the inner elements 3 of the pedal cranks fitted with the bearings 9 are fastened to the stirrups 4 and the levers 10 are fastened to the shaft ends 7; the levers 11 are then fastened between the levers 10 and the outer elements 2 of the pedal cranks, as previously described.
  • the device according to the present invention operates as follows.
  • the pedal stroke produces a rotary motion of each one of the two pedal cranks.
  • the thrust exerted on the pedals transferred by the user's feet to the outer elements 2, is converted in a rotary motion of the latter and, consequently, also of the inner elements 3 of the pedal cranks.
  • the gear 17 is a fixed gear (being integral to the sleeve 6) and the diameter and number of teeth of the gear 17 is equal to the diameter and number of teeth of the crown wheel 25; consequently, the shaft 7 will remain fixed or static in spite of the hub rotation 5.
  • levers 10 fastened to the shaft ends 7 remain still in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, oriented to the position ensuring maximum elongation of the right pedal crank.
  • the levers 11, vice-versa, of which one end is integral to the outer elements 2 of the pedal cranks, are submitted to an angular movement around the fulcrum point represented by 10A in Fig. 1, following the movement of the pedal cranks themselves.
  • the linkage of levers 10-11 is so conceived that, at the moment in which the right pedal crank takes substantially the same angular position of the lever 10, the relevant outer element 3 is extended at its utmost on its relevant inner element 2, i.e. the crank arm 2-3 has reached its utmost length; at this moment, conversely, the left pedal crank is in a specular position, and the linkage of levers 10-11 causes the relevant outer element 3 to take its utmost backward position on the relevant inner element 2, i.e. the crank arm 2-3 is at its shortest length.
  • the shaft (7) coaxial to the hub (5) of the device can be easily maintained practically still or static in order to ensure sliding as desired of the outer elements of the pedal cranks on their relevant inner elements, providing anyway interacting gears between the hub and shaft.
  • the device according to the invention ensures an easy adjustment of the system "working point”, i.e. setting the angular position for obtaining a greater thrust arm 2-3, as desired.
  • a first user of a pedal vehicle may wish a maximum length of the crank arm 2-3 at the moment that the pedal crank itself is substantially parallel to the plane whereon the vehicle is moving; another user may wish this condition at the moment that the pedal crank starts its downwards stroke; a third user, on the contrary, may wish a maximum length of the pedal crank 2-3 at an intermediate location with respect the previous ones.
  • the solution according to the present invention ensures substantial advantages compared to the common technique previously mentioned.
  • a first essential result is represented by a considerable reduction of the overall dimensions of the device according to the invention compared to the previous common technique; in this respect it should be noticed that the maximum size of the bodies 13 and 15 in the areas where the relevant surface threading 13A and 15B are delimited is in the order of 38 millimeters, i.e. the device according to the invention can be easily inserted in the sleeve or motion box of a bicycle standard frame, typically with an outer diameter of about 56 millimeters.
  • Another advantage derives from the optimal distribution of the stress exerted on the teeth of the gears system, since such a stress is distributed over a plurality of satellite gears with respect to the sole satellite gear provided in WO 94/26581.
  • the satellite gears provided by the present invention may also have a smaller size; as a result, also the crown wheel 25 keyed to the shaft 7 will have smaller dimensions than provided in WO 94/26581.
  • Another significant technical result of the solution according to the present invention is due by the symmetrical configuration of the stress transferred from the hub 5 to the shaft 7, with a consequent suppression of the flexing moments both on the shaft 7 and hub 5.
  • the device core can be miniaturized, i.e. demagnified, also reducing its total mass, ensuring at the same time an optimal distribution or splitting of the mechanical stress generated by the hub rotation 5 on the shaft 7, frictions reduction and improved total performance.
  • a first possible implementation of the invention may relate to the number of satellite gears provided.
  • the advantages mentioned herein for the invention compared to the common state of the art may also be obtained providing a different number of satellite gears 20 from the number described above by way of example.
  • Another possible implementation to the invention is to provide appropriate protecting means assembled on the pedal cranks in line with the areas where the linkage consisting of the levers 10-11 operates.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Control Devices (AREA)
  • Mechanical Operated Clutches (AREA)
  • Arrangement And Mounting Of Devices That Control Transmission Of Motive Force (AREA)
  • Arrangement Or Mounting Of Control Devices For Change-Speed Gearing (AREA)
  • Transmission Devices (AREA)
  • Gear-Shifting Mechanisms (AREA)
EP01105290A 2000-03-06 2001-03-05 Dispositif permettant de modifier la longueur d'une manivelle de pédale notamment sur des véhicules à pédale Expired - Lifetime EP1132285B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT2000TO000209A IT1319939B1 (it) 2000-03-06 2000-03-06 Dispositivo per variare la lunghezza di pedivelle in particolare perveicoli a pedali.
ITTO000209 2000-03-06

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1132285A2 true EP1132285A2 (fr) 2001-09-12
EP1132285A3 EP1132285A3 (fr) 2004-05-06
EP1132285B1 EP1132285B1 (fr) 2006-05-17

Family

ID=11457534

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01105290A Expired - Lifetime EP1132285B1 (fr) 2000-03-06 2001-03-05 Dispositif permettant de modifier la longueur d'une manivelle de pédale notamment sur des véhicules à pédale

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1132285B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE326384T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE60119606D1 (fr)
IT (1) IT1319939B1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITTO20090989A1 (it) 2009-12-15 2011-06-16 Giuseppe Marchitto Pedivella per biciclette
IT202000025576A1 (it) 2020-10-28 2022-04-28 Carlo Biondi Sistema di propulsione a pedali

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1994026581A1 (fr) 1993-05-19 1994-11-24 Ivano Giustozzi Dispositif permettant de modifier la longueur d'une manivelle de pedale

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE847867C (de) * 1950-02-18 1952-08-28 Helmuth Sell Tretkurbel mit selbsttaetig sich aendernder Laenge, insbesondere fuer Fahrraeder
GB2152172A (en) * 1983-12-23 1985-07-31 Wu Ching Jong Variable-throw crank
ITTO980229A1 (it) * 1998-03-16 1999-09-16 Dema S R L Dispositivo e metodo per variare la lunghezza di bracci di pedaliere, in particolare per biciclette.

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1994026581A1 (fr) 1993-05-19 1994-11-24 Ivano Giustozzi Dispositif permettant de modifier la longueur d'une manivelle de pedale

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITTO20090989A1 (it) 2009-12-15 2011-06-16 Giuseppe Marchitto Pedivella per biciclette
IT202000025576A1 (it) 2020-10-28 2022-04-28 Carlo Biondi Sistema di propulsione a pedali

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITTO20000209A1 (it) 2001-09-06
IT1319939B1 (it) 2003-11-12
DE60119606D1 (de) 2006-06-22
EP1132285A3 (fr) 2004-05-06
EP1132285B1 (fr) 2006-05-17
ITTO20000209A0 (it) 2000-03-06
ATE326384T1 (de) 2006-06-15

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